Sealed package



1953 L, SALFISBERG 2,654,471

SEALED PACKAGE Filed Nov. '7, 1950 Zero Z, a 119K27 M Patented Oct. 6, 1953 SEALED "PAQKKGE elz'eroy 41L. Sa'lfisber'g, deceased, late ''Of South range,.N. J., by Herman -}.-Kopald, New York, N. 36., and Lloyd I. Volckeliing, Glen Ridge, -N. J., executors, assignors "to .Ive'rs-Lee Company, iNewark, N. 3 a corporation of Delaware appl'icaition Noveniher 7,:IQBQ SeI iaLNoAiMASI 2 claims. 1

-This application is aicontinuationein-pant of the application of Leroy L. isalfisberg, deceased,

serial :No. .15;623, filed March 1 8, @1948, .now Patent:No.'2,'606',4-12, dated :August 12, 1952; :and the iinvention'relates in general to packages made of two layers of packaging material, tor example, strips of cellophane, Pliofilrn, metal -foil, Ipapers 101" "the like sealed together :in zones :iormi-ng rand boundin'g 'a compartment between the layers in which is located the packaged substance.

Packages of this general type and machines for making them are :disclosed, for example in the 'Salfisberg Patents Nos. 2,245,827 and 2,350,980 dated-June 17, 1941, and June fi, 194a, respectively. :strips of material are moved through the machine between cooperative sealing dies with a step by step :motion, and at the end-of each step of movement, :the dies press the strips together simultaneously along their longitudinal margins and transversely to form :a rectangular bag-like :container ha-vinganopen end, the two sides and bottom of the bag being formed by the longitudinal and transverse seals, respectively, and the open end being formed between theunse'aled ,por-

tions of the strips at the upper ends of sai'ci'long'itudinal sealed zones. *With this method, the lastmentioned end of a given package is sealed at a different time "and independently of the sealing In "methods set forth in these patents, the

of the strips together to *iorm'theoth'er three-sides of the package; the scaling is therefore not alwaysas secureiasit might be, and-frequently the ,iuncturesof the-longitudinal sealed .zones and the transverse zones 'that close the previously open endof=the package are "visible and detract from the appearance of the package, and they may be spaced apartand thereby permit leakage of the packaged -'substanoe.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved package wherein the layers of packaging material have been initially or preliminarily sealed together to form a selfsustaining bag-like structure having an open end through which the bag is filled and thereafter said layers have been scaled together to form simultaneously all of the longitudinal sealed zones and the transverse zones and. thereby providing a final or permanent annular sealed zone which is continuous or uninterrupted, of uniform strength throughout, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Another object is to provide such a package wherein the initial or preliminarily sealed zones shall be practically invisible in the completed package.

Other objects, advantages and results of the 2 invention will be brought but by the following description'in conjunction with the accompanying drawings vin which Eigure Lis a plan view of a package embodying the invention;

Figure 2 --is an (edge .elevational view thereof;

i-Eigure 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary transverse view, approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

A Figure Ale ,2. plan view of a modified form of the package;

.Figure 5 'is anenlargedplan view of apportion of a package-strip illustrating some of the steps in the method of forming the package that are described and claimed in the above-mentioned co-pending vapplication;

Figure 6 is an edge elevational view of the portion of the package strip shown in Figure 5;

Figure? isa viewsimilar to Figure 5 showing the package strip incident 'to formation of 'the .package illustrated in iF-igure 4;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional "View on the plane of the'line '88 of Eigure "1;

Figure '9 'is a view similar toFigure 1 showing another 'form .of package embodying the inventionyan'd Figure 10 is an edge el'evati'on'al view of the package shown in Figure 9.

'In'ina'kingthe'package, two strips 1 and '2 of suitable packaging material are drawn by stepffrom a suitable supply-into juxtaposition or 'sidepy side relation by "any suitable mechanism such as that described inPatents Nos. "21606,'41'2, 2245,82? andassoioso.

At "the end of each step of movement, the two strips are "sealed together by suitable dies alon their "longitudinal "edges, as indicated at t, "and "transversely 'as -indicated at '5 to form a 'bag 'like receptacle having an open end or mouth facing "upwardly between the strips, and simultaneously said strips are sealed together along longitudinal and transverse margins 5 and l, as well as transversely, as indicated at 8, of said open end of the next preceding bag-like receptacle that was formed at the end of the immediately preceding step of movement, so as to form a complete package A. In the interval between the steps of movement and after the partial formation of each package above described, the substance or article to be packaged is deposited by a filling mechanism having a discharge spout into the open mouth of the bag-like receptacle.

In forming the packages, the sealing dies are first separated and the packaging strips are pulled downwardly into juxtaposition between the sealing dies. Thereupon, the dies are moved toward each other so as to cause the sealing surfaces thereon to press the strips together to form the zones 4 and and partially fabricate a package or a bag-like structure having its open end open between the strips at the upper ends of the sealing dies, and simultaneously press the strips together to form the zones 6, 1 and 8 of the next preceding package and complete said package. Where the strips I and 2 are of thermoplastic material or have a thermoplastic coating on their adjacent surfaces, the sealing dies will be heated in any suitable manner to soften or fuse the thermoplastic material and seal the strips together. Where ordinary adhesive is used for sealing the strips together, the heaters may be omitted.

After the strips have been sealed as above described, the sealing dies are opened and the spout of the filling mechanism is quickly lowered into the open end of the partially completed package to deposit the material to be packaged. The spout is then withdrawn and the operations are repeated.

In the package so far described, the permanent sealed zones 5, 'i and 8 are disposed Wholly outside of the initially or preliminarily sealed zones 4 and 5 and are corrugated or crimped, while the initially sealed zones 4 and 5 are smooth or fiat (see Figure 3).

A modification of the invention is shown in Figures 4, 7 and 8 where the initially sealed zones 18 and I9 are at least partially overlaid by the permanent sealed zones 20, 2! and 22. In this case, the sealing dies will have the sealing surfaces for forming the initial and permanent seals, respectively, in proper relation to each other to locate the sealed zones as described.

Another form of package is shown in Figure 9 where a single strip of material is folded upon itself as indicated at 23, to form two superposed layers that are preliminarily sealed together transversely or inwardly of the fold as indicated at 2 3 and along the longitudinal edge portions as indicated at 25. The permanent sealed zones 25 and 2'! are inverted U-shaped and extend only along the longitudinal edge portions of the layers and along the transverse edge portions opposite the fold.

It will be seen that in the specific form of package herein described, the initial sealed zones 4 and 5 are arranged to form a U-shaped seal, all portions of which are substantially continuous and uninterrupted, thereby producing a self -sustaining bag-like receptacle, While the areas 6, 1 and 8 form an annular seal of rectangular shape, all portions of which are continuous and uninterrupted to hermetically and permanently seal said receptacle. This annular seal is therefore of uniform strength throughout and attractive in appearance. Moreover, the packages 4. of Figures 1 and 4 have in effect double seals throughout the sealed portions except across the original mouth of the container, that is, across the ends of the initial zones 4; but where the initial zones are smooth and fiat, as shown, they are substantially invisible. Furthermore, it will be observed that the initial smooth fiat seal avoids the formation of strains or distortions between the sealing zones and the commodity compartment while the final annular seal, made after the compartment has been filled, tightly seals the whole compartment so as to provide strength to prevent separation of the sheets, and the initial zones maintain the compartment tight and prevent the escape of the contents of the compartment into the final sealing areas during the operation of filling the compartment. Where the packaging material becomes crinkled during the sealing operation and before the insertion of the powder or the like into the compartment, particles of the powder flow into the crinkles and provide an irregular and unpleasing appearance at the margins of the compartments, whereas in the present invention, the smooth sealing zones insure straight and attractive margins for the compartment.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other forms of packages within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A package comprising opposed rectangular layers of package material thermoplastically sealed together in smooth fiat zones along only three edge portions and spaced inwardly from the corresponding edges of said layers and forming a bag-like commodity-receiving compartment in which a commodity is deposited, said layers being also thermoplastically crimp-sealed together in a continuous annular area that is disposed outwardly of the inner boundaries of said smooth fiat zones in encircling relation to said compartment.

2. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular area partially overlies said zones.

HERMAN G. KOPALD, LLOYD I, VOLCKENIN G, Executors of the last will and testament of Leroy L. Salfisberg, deceased.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Zupnik Sept. 17, 1935 Steele et a1. Nov. 12, 1929 Stokes Oct. 7, 1941 Salfisberg May 20, 1947 Number 

